Canada’s seniors: Spoiled or worthy of getting something back after a lifetime of paying into the system?
That question was up for debate on Oct. 25, 2016 at another entry in the Great Canadian Debates. Margaret Wente and Susan Eng debated the motion “Canada must stop coddling its spoiled seniors” at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente argued in favour.
Wente says the age of 65 as the retirement age is a totally meaningless number. #GCD2016 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) October 25, 2016
Wente says she doesn’t relate to the “senior” label at all. “I feel like whacking them with my yoga mat”, she says.
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) October 25, 2016
Susan Eng, a lawyer and former executive vice-president of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, argued against.
Seniors are not “coddled” or “spoiled”, says Eng. #GCD2016
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) October 25, 2016
Many seniors have to return to work, take out loans or go bankrupt to support themselves post-retirement, says Eng.
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) October 25, 2016
- Click here to watch the video from the event.
- Click here to see the photos.
The two debaters authored competing op-eds for the Globe and Mail bolstering their positions. 
